NCW Libraries

Hailed by NPRs "Fresh Air" as part "Testament of Youth," part Dorothy Sayers, and part "Upstairs, Downstairs," this astonishing debut has already won fans from coast to coast and is poised to add Maisie Dobbs to the ranks of literatures favorite sleuths. Maisie Dobbs isnt just any young housemaid. Through her own natural intelligenceand the patronage of her benevolent employersshe works her way into college at Cambridge. When World War I breaks out,...

The #1 New York Times–bestselling author discusses his early days as a writer and the creation of his beloved psychologist and sleuth.
In 1985, clinical child psychologist Alex Delaware made his debut in the mystery novel When the Bough Breaks by Jonathan Kellerman. But how did Kellerman create a character who would go on to win him Edgar and Anthony Awards for best first novel and make him a number-one New York Times–bestselling...

The New York Times–bestselling author's "engaging cop hero" finds himself on the other side of the interview room in this revealing short story (Publishers Weekly). After twenty-seven years on the force, Lt. Lou Boldt is suddenly seated at a table being grilled as part of an internal investigation. They want him to talk about what happened with ten grand in cash in the evidence room. As the pressure mounts and Boldt leads his interrogators...

The #1 New York Times–bestselling author reveals the story behind "one of this century's most original, tantalizing pop-fiction heroes" (The Washington Post). In this short piece, the creator of Jack Reacher shares the origins of the ex-military cop who now makes use of his skills in the civilian world-a place where he never feels quite at home. In addition, Lee Child reflects on writing and his own life story: the importance of character; making...

The New York Times—bestselling author of Hush Hush interviews the lead character of her hit series. In 1997, the character of Tess Monaghan debuted in Laura Lippman's detective novel, Baltimore Blues. The book launched the bestselling series that continues to delight readers decades later. But who exactly is Theresa Esther Weinstein Monaghan when she's not tackling troublesome cases? In this fictional article, author Laura Lippman takes you to...

When the NYPD detective and sociopath known simply as Mallory made her series debut, John Sandford called her "one of the most interesting new characters to come along in years." A homeless wild child who was taken in by a New York City cop and grew up to follow in his footsteps, she possesses a skill set-including a talent for computer hacking-that allows her to track down her prey like no one else. In this insightful essay, author Carol O'Connell...

The New York Times–bestselling author tells the story behind private detective Charlie Parker, the haunted hero of John Connolly's eerie supernatural crime thrillers. Recounting his days as a journalist for the Irish Times and the Dublin murder that led him to question the ways we think about perpetrators and victims; discussing his crime-fiction idols; and reflecting on empathy and evil, John Connolly offers a short work that lets us learn more...

The #1 New York Times—bestselling author tells the origin story of LA defense attorney Mickey Haller. In this concise, absorbing account, Michael Connelly reveals the work, and the strokes of luck, that contributed to his creation of the character Mickey Haller, the subject of multiple bestselling novels as well as the hit Netflix series. He reveals the lawyers, both fictional and real-life, who played a role in shaping the sharp-witted attorney...

Get the backstory on an amazing heroine in this suspenseful kidnapping tale from the bestselling author of Vanishing Act and The Left-Handed Twin. A Native American of Seneca descent, Jane Whitefield helps people in harm's way disappear without a trace and take on entirely new lives with new identities. Of course, not everyone is a fan of Jane's work . . . There is a group of men who would like to speak with the elusive woman. That's why they've...

In this short story, the New York Times—bestselling author delves into the private lives and personal histories of her "extremely congenial characters" (The Philadelphia Inquirer). It is 1912, and Peter Naylor calls at the home of Lady Vespasia Cumming-Gould, longtime friend of Thomas Pitt and his wife, Charlotte. Clouds are gathering in Europe, and the prime minister is considering Thomas to head up the country's intelligence services-the king...